Past and Present of Fayette County Iowa TAble of Contents

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History and Genealogy
of
Fayette County Iowa

Past and Present of Fayette County Iowa

By George William Fitch, 1910 B. F. Bowman and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana

Transcribed by Nancy Piper

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I- IOWA ANTIQUITIES ~ 25
English and French Rivalry in Attempts to Possess Country-Origin of Land -Geological Evidences-The Mound Builders-The Mounds-The Builders - Early Indian History-Tribal Peculiarities and Customs- - Cartier and His Frenchmen-The Fur Trade.

CHAPTER II-OUTLINE SKETCH OF IOWA History ~ 38
A War of Dominance-Indians Aggressive-Tecumsehs Confederation-Black Hawk-Keokuk-Decisive Battles-Battle of Tippecanoe-Battle of the Thames -The Black Hawk Purchase-Many Treaties Before Extinguishment of Indian Titles-The Neutral Ground-Land Grants-The Louisiana Purchase-Causes of War of 1812-Iowa First Visited by Europeans-Territorial Changes-Rapid Settlement of Iowa-Boundary Controversy-Constitutional Convention-Constitutional Amendments-Locating the Capital-Educational Provisions-Character of Early Pioneers-Soldiers Orphans Homes-Reform Schools-Penitentiaries-The Railroad Question-Coal Output-Gyp sum-State Agricultural Society-Iowa Childrens Home Association-Population-Iowas Contribution to the Civil War-Spanish-American War-e--Iowa National Guard-State Executive Department.

CHAPTER III--ORGANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT OF FAYETTE COUNTY ~ 68

One of the Largest Counties Ever Organized-Organization as Now Bounded - Selection of County Seat-Establishment of Fort Atkinson First Subdivisions of County-s-Early Timber Tracts-Prairie Land-The Streams of the County - Character of Soil-First Settlers-First County Officers-Congressional Representatives-First Acts of County Commissioners-Census of 1850--.Establishment of Roads-Modern Improvement of Highways-More Early Settlers.

COMING SOON.....
CHAPTER IV-PIONEER REMINISCENCES ~ 93

Governor Larrabee Recites His Harrowing Experience While on a Land-Hunting Trip-Lost in a Snow Storm-A Civil War Episode-Hoover and the Bear -Anthony Thompsons Experiences-Lorenzo Dutton.

CHAPTER V-PIONEER HOMES, AMUSEMENTS AND RECREATIONS ~ 109

The Building of a "House" -Early Culinary Methods-Abundance of Wild Game-A Spirit of Good Fellowship-Amusements and Recreations-Spelling Contests-Singing Schools-Hunting.

CHAPTER VI-COURT HOUSES, JAIL AND POOR FARM ~ 115

Donation of Ground-Construction of First Court House-First Judges--construction of a Jail-Burning of Court House-Controversy Over Location of County Seat-Rebuilding of Court House at West Union-Enlargement of Court House-New Jail Building-Fayette Countys Poor-Purchase of the Second Farm - Soldiers Relief Commission.

CHAPTER VII-GERMAN AMERICAN CITIZENS AND OTHER FOREIGN SETTLERS ~ 127

The Teutonic Wanderlust--Germans Prove Desirable Citizens-Their Characteristics-The Foreign Population-The Negroes.

CHAPTER VIII-PUBLIC UTILITIES ~ 133

Efforts to Secure Railroads-Public Meetings-Public Subscriptions-The Chicago Great Western-Electric Railways-Telegraph, Telephone and Express Companies in Fayette County-e-Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad-The West Union Branch.

CHAPTER IX-FAYETTE OOUNTY LAWYERS ~ 144

William McClintock - M. V. Burdick-Eber G. Byarn - Carman A. Newcomb-Jacob W. Rogers --L. L. Ainsworth-Milo McGlathery -S. S. Ainsworth- S. B. Zeigler-Joseph Hobson-William B. Lakin -Henry Rickel- C. H. Millar - John P. Ellis- O. W. Rogers- William V. Allen- W. A. Hoyt- C. H. Quigley- L. M. Whitney-Reuben Nobler-Samuel Murdock-E. H. Williams-Charles T. Granger-Lawyers Admitted Since 1875-Present Members of Bar.

CHAPTER X-THE PRESS OF FAYETTE COUNTY ~ 152

The Fayette County Pioneer-Many Early and Short-Lived Publications "Andy" Felt-Fayette County Union-West Union Gazette-The Argo-Hobson Brothers -Educational Review-Fayette Journal- Mrs. D. Alexander-Iowa Postal Card Reporter- Waucoma Sentinel-Arlington News-Oelwein Register -Clermont Enterprise-Maynard News-Hawkeye Beacon-Elgin Echo-Westgate Herald-Other Papers Which Have Appeared and Disappeared.

CHAPTER XI-THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ~ 162

Early-day Preparations for the Practice of Medicine-First Regular Instructions-Establishment of Medical Colleges-Pioneer Physicians of Fayette County-Dr. G. C. Parker the First Physician Here-s-Others Who Were Prominent in Early Days-Present Board of United States Pension Examiners--Fayette County Medical Society-List of Present-day Physicians.

CHAPTER XII~FFICIAL HONORS-ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICERS ~ 172

Early Political Conditions-Congressmen---:Members of the Legislature-County Commissioners and School Fund Commissioners--County Judges- County Supervisors-Clerks of Court-Prosecuting Attorneys-County Attorneys-Auditors-c-Recorders and Treasurers- Superintendent of Schools -Sheriffs-Surveyors-Coroners.

CHAPTER XIII-WAR.OF THE REBELLION ~ 181

Introductory-Mutterings of Internal Strife--Secession Sentiment Not Tolerated in Fayette County-War Meetings Held-First Meeting for Enlistments -Company F, Third Iowa Regiment-e-war Meeting at West Union--Enrollments-Flag Presentations-Soldiers; Bounties-Fayette County Reunion Association-Third Iowa Regiment-Rosters of Fayette County Soldiers in Civil War and Commands in Which They Served.

CHAPTER XIV-EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY ~ 261

The Old Log School House Now Only a Memory-Magnitude of Present School System-Public Schools in Fayette-Fayette Seminary--Teachers-Upper Iowa University-University Recruits-Presidents of the Institution.

©2008 Genealogy Trails

		History and Genealogy of Fayette County Iowa

Past and Present of Fayette County Iowa By George William Fitch, 1910 B. F. Bowman and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana Transcribed by Nancy Piper TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I- IOWA ANTIQUITIES ~ 25 English and French Rivalry in Attempts to Possess Country-Origin of Land -Geological Evidences-The Mound Builders-The Mounds-The Builders - Early Indian History-Tribal Peculiarities and Customs- - Cartier and His Frenchmen-The Fur Trade. CHAPTER II-OUTLINE SKETCH OF IOWA History ~ 38 A War of Dominance-Indians Aggressive-Tecumsehs Confederation-Black Hawk-Keokuk-Decisive Battles-Battle of Tippecanoe-Battle of the Thames -The Black Hawk Purchase-Many Treaties Before Extinguishment of Indian Titles-The Neutral Ground-Land Grants-The Louisiana Purchase-Causes of War of 1812-Iowa First Visited by Europeans-Territorial Changes-Rapid Settlement of Iowa-Boundary Controversy-Constitutional Convention-Constitutional Amendments-Locating the Capital-Educational Provisions-Character of Early Pioneers-Soldiers Orphans Homes-Reform Schools-Penitentiaries-The Railroad Question-Coal Output-Gyp sum-State Agricultural Society-Iowa Childrens Home Association-Population-Iowas Contribution to the Civil War-Spanish-American War-e--Iowa National Guard-State Executive Department. CHAPTER III--ORGANIZATION AND SETTLEMENT OF FAYETTE COUNTY ~ 68 One of the Largest Counties Ever Organized-Organization as Now Bounded - Selection of County Seat-Establishment of Fort Atkinson First Subdivisions of County-s-Early Timber Tracts-Prairie Land-The Streams of the County - Character of Soil-First Settlers-First County Officers-Congressional Representatives-First Acts of County Commissioners-Census of 1850--.Establishment of Roads-Modern Improvement of Highways-More Early Settlers. COMING SOON..... CHAPTER IV-PIONEER REMINISCENCES ~ 93 Governor Larrabee Recites His Harrowing Experience While on a Land-Hunting Trip-Lost in a Snow Storm-A Civil War Episode-Hoover and the Bear -Anthony Thompsons Experiences-Lorenzo Dutton. CHAPTER V-PIONEER HOMES, AMUSEMENTS AND RECREATIONS ~ 109 The Building of a "House" -Early Culinary Methods-Abundance of Wild Game-A Spirit of Good Fellowship-Amusements and Recreations-Spelling Contests-Singing Schools-Hunting. CHAPTER VI-COURT HOUSES, JAIL AND POOR FARM ~ 115 Donation of Ground-Construction of First Court House-First Judges--construction of a Jail-Burning of Court House-Controversy Over Location of County Seat-Rebuilding of Court House at West Union-Enlargement of Court House-New Jail Building-Fayette Countys Poor-Purchase of the Second Farm - Soldiers Relief Commission. CHAPTER VII-GERMAN AMERICAN CITIZENS AND OTHER FOREIGN SETTLERS ~ 127 The Teutonic Wanderlust--Germans Prove Desirable Citizens-Their Characteristics-The Foreign Population-The Negroes. CHAPTER VIII-PUBLIC UTILITIES ~ 133 Efforts to Secure Railroads-Public Meetings-Public Subscriptions-The Chicago Great Western-Electric Railways-Telegraph, Telephone and Express Companies in Fayette County-e-Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad-The West Union Branch. CHAPTER IX-FAYETTE OOUNTY LAWYERS ~ 144 William McClintock - M. V. Burdick-Eber G. Byarn - Carman A. Newcomb-Jacob W. Rogers --L. L. Ainsworth-Milo McGlathery -S. S. Ainsworth- S. B. Zeigler-Joseph Hobson-William B. Lakin -Henry Rickel- C. H. Millar - John P. Ellis- O. W. Rogers- William V. Allen- W. A. Hoyt- C. H. Quigley- L. M. Whitney-Reuben Nobler-Samuel Murdock-E. H. Williams-Charles T. Granger-Lawyers Admitted Since 1875-Present Members of Bar. CHAPTER X-THE PRESS OF FAYETTE COUNTY ~ 152 The Fayette County Pioneer-Many Early and Short-Lived Publications "Andy" Felt-Fayette County Union-West Union Gazette-The Argo-Hobson Brothers -Educational Review-Fayette Journal- Mrs. D. Alexander-Iowa Postal Card Reporter- Waucoma Sentinel-Arlington News-Oelwein Register -Clermont Enterprise-Maynard News-Hawkeye Beacon-Elgin Echo-Westgate Herald-Other Papers Which Have Appeared and Disappeared. CHAPTER XI-THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ~ 162 Early-day Preparations for the Practice of Medicine-First Regular Instructions-Establishment of Medical Colleges-Pioneer Physicians of Fayette County-Dr. G. C. Parker the First Physician Here-s-Others Who Were Prominent in Early Days-Present Board of United States Pension Examiners--Fayette County Medical Society-List of Present-day Physicians. CHAPTER XII~FFICIAL HONORS-ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICERS ~ 172 Early Political Conditions-Congressmen---:Members of the Legislature-County Commissioners and School Fund Commissioners--County Judges- County Supervisors-Clerks of Court-Prosecuting Attorneys-County Attorneys-Auditors-c-Recorders and Treasurers- Superintendent of Schools -Sheriffs-Surveyors-Coroners. CHAPTER XIII-WAR.OF THE REBELLION ~ 181 Introductory-Mutterings of Internal Strife--Secession Sentiment Not Tolerated in Fayette County-War Meetings Held-First Meeting for Enlistments -Company F, Third Iowa Regiment-e-war Meeting at West Union--Enrollments-Flag Presentations-Soldiers; Bounties-Fayette County Reunion Association-Third Iowa Regiment-Rosters of Fayette County Soldiers in Civil War and Commands in Which They Served. CHAPTER XIV-EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY ~ 261 The Old Log School House Now Only a Memory-Magnitude of Present School System-Public Schools in Fayette-Fayette Seminary--Teachers-Upper Iowa University-University Recruits-Presidents of the Institution. ©2008 Genealogy Trails